Friday Fashionspiration #5: The Be All End All Bouquet Bag

A mayjah shout-out to Brides magazine's Tweeters for calling our attention to Judith Leiber's new bridal bag collection - the perfect way to end this week's alternative flower kick!

Behold the BLING:

Photo via Bazaar Blog

This collection, which also includes fabric bags and a fabulous bedazzled wedding cake miniaudiere (is it wrong to describe Leiber's bags as bedazzled? Probably.), will be available in February 2011. So brides, start pinching those pennies! Based on Leiber's other creations, I suspect these babies will go for between $5,000-$6,000 a pop.

Rather the ultimate bridal accessory, no?

Happy Weekend!

Cheers,

The Clutchquet: A Fun and Fashionable Bouquet Alternative!

Thanks to yesterday's post on the fabulous sugar flowers created by Victoria of Numily Creations, I am on a flower alternative kick and finally have an inkling to post one of my all-time favorite wedding ideas: the bridesmaid clutch-bouquet... clutchquet? I think yes.

The clutchquet is a triple threat:

1. Bridesmaid gift

2. Bridesmaid bouquet

3. Handy and fashionable storage for your bridesmaids' valuables (like lipstick) - and something they might really seriously use again! After they dye their bridesmaid dress a color they will also wear again. Bonus!

This here's my absolute favorite:

Photo: Bella Destinee via Offbeat Bride

As floral bills continue to skyrocket and brides become more inclined to make their weddings "green", the clutchquet seems to be a trend that is catching on.

I found these and many other beauties on Etsy.

First, peacock delight! The brooch actually looks like a little bouquet itself, adding to the character of this cutie patootie:

Angee W on Etsy

And you know I wouldn't have let this post pass me by without showing some orange goodness:

Bella Fiore on Etsy

So fun!

Which is your favorite? Would you ever choose a clutchquet for your bridesmaids?

Cheers,

Bridal Bouquet Alternative: Sugar Flowers!

We are on a bouquet kick here at AWW...

Yesterday we posted about a great way to immortalize your bridal bouquet. Today, we are very excited to share an alternative to the traditional flower bouquet: sugar flowers!

Chef Victoria Cen of Numily Creations was one of the talented wedding vendors who attended NYC Wedding Connection on October 14 (get the deets on our next event here!). Victoria makes gobsmacking cakes like this one, inspired by Klimt's "The Kiss":

Photos courtesy of Victoria Cen at Numily Creations

She has also come up with a fun and innovative alternative to a traditional floral bouquet - the sugar flower bouquet:

Now, this gal is so talented that she can basically make any flower out of sugar, matched to any wedding color palette. Her bouquets can be carried by the bride and bridesmaids, and her sugar flowers can also be used as boutonnieres.

Check out these same sugar flowers in action as cake decor:

Lovely.

Sugar flowers are a great alternative to regular flowers. Here's why:

*They are better for the environment.

*They are long-lasting (both during your wedding day and as a keepsake afterwards).

*They can be matched to even the most fantastical wedding color palettes.

*Plus, sugar flowers are a great way to have your favorite flowers at your wedding, regardless of the season!

*And you can eat them. If you really want to.

What's not to love?

Click here to contact Victoria and see more of her creations.

Cheers,

Bridal Tip: Immortalize Your Bouquet

One of the best things about being a bride adviser is sharing lessons learned - both the good and the bad - from my own wedding. From finding a nice hanger for your wedding dress to freezing your wedding cake... these are the little details that can make a big difference.

I learned a TON from bridal blogs and magazines when planning my wedding. But one of my favorite lessons (and its accompanying memento) came courtesy of my mother-in-law. The day after my wedding, my mother-in-law whisked my bridal bouquet away... and I didn't see it for several months. I was a little nervous - after all, I hadn't given her permission to take my bouquet and I had no idea what she had done with it. Was she having it pressed? Frozen? What else can you even do with a bouquet?

Well, something like this:

Photos via Salt Marsh Pottery

How brilliant is this? Salt Marsh Pottery, in Dartmouth, MA, creates these lovely "wedding commemoratives" by pressing the bouquet flowers into the clay, arranging and drying them, and then painting and glazing. The entire process is done by hand. They make a variety of products, from bowls and large plates to more affordable trivets:

Their smallest piece would be well suited to your groom's boutonniere:

The perfect wedding mementos to feather your newlywed nest!

Former brides, what did *you* do with your bouquet?

Cheers,

The Great Short Wedding Dress Debate

Short knockouts from Fall 2010 collections: Monique Lhuillier, Jewel by Priscilla of Boston, and Oscar de la Renta (all photos via NYMag.com)

The bridal tweet-and-blogosphere is abuzz these days with the Great Short Wedding Dress Debate. Short dresses are becoming a bridal runway feature, and everyone is weighing in on the big question:

Would you show a little leg on your wedding day?

Priscilla of Boston opened three of its four Fall 2010 shows (Melissa Sweet, Platinum Bridal, and Priscilla of Boston proper) with short dresses. Classic bridal gown designers like Oscar de la Renta and Monique Lhuillier are starting to feature multiple short dresses in their collections. And at the recent NYC Bridal Market, short dresses were everywhere! (For a great blog post on the best short dresses from NYC, check out one of our fave bridal bloggers, The Knotty Bride.)

Opening (left - rosettes AND pockets?! LOVE) and closing (right) looks at Melissa Sweet for Priscilla of Boston Fall 2010

I have never been a big fan of the short wedding dress. I found it to be too informal and simply not "here comes the bride" enough. But recent events and dazzling runway designs are starting to change my mind.

A wedding should reflect the bride and groom, and a bride's wedding dress should reflect the way she wants to celebrate while complimenting her body.

Coveting a shortie? Listen up, girl:

*Short dresses are ideal for a bride with great gams.

*They are also perfect for petite brides who want the fun of a poufy skirt without drowning in yards and yards of fabric.

*Short dresses are also a great choice for less traditional wedding celebrations (such as cocktail receptions) and sophisticated, cosmopolitan, frou-frou-free weddings.

A friend of mine got married last weekend in a dress that looked just like this:

Oscar de la Renta Fall 2009

And she. Looked. KILLER.

Below the knee, we of course have to have a moment for the impact that Mad Men has had on the fashion world lately. I have a feeling we will be seeing plenty of retro-style, tea length dresses with layers of tulle in 2011. Dresses such as this beauty:

Sarantina by Sarah Jassir Fall 2011 (via Martha Stewart Weddings)

Who knew showing some leg could look so bridal? Consider me convinced.

If you're loving these dresses but still unsure, remember that short dresses also make FAB reception dresses! Ooh. That opens up a whole new can o' worms...

Cheers,

Best Bridal Market Bloggers

You know you want more where this came from... (photo via Project Wedding)

There has been so much great coverage of this season's NYC Bridal Market, it could take weeks to sort through all the posts and dresses. Never fear, we have boiled down the best Bridal Market coverage and, since it's Friday and this was the big birthday week and we are headed to Toronto today for a fabulous wedding (read: we don't have the time to write a real blog post ourselves), we're just going to throw a concise yet fabulous link list atcha. Enjoy!

Best Bridal Market Bloggers

Project Wedding Blog

Weddingbee

Yours in Bridal on Facebook

The Knotty Bride

Have another favorite link? Leave it for all of us in the comments!

Stay tuned... next week we are back to work and blogging, and will be posting some amazing photos from recent runway shows and weddings as well as interviews with inspiring wedding professionals!

Cheers,

The PERFECT Wedding Gown Transformation

Merci, Monique!

For her Fall 2011 Bridal show, Monique Lhuillier transformed a Spring 2011 runway knockout into a to-die-for wedding gown.

Left: Spring 2011 via NYMag.com  |  Right: Bridal Fall 2011 via Project Wedding

Perfection such as this is rather beyond words. So I will stop writing and just continue to drool.

Cheers,

Bridal Scents at Every Price!

I've written before about the fabulous Jo Malone and the art of fragrance combining to create a signature bridal scent for your big day. But you know, I realize that some brides have other priorities besides sniffing dozens of colognes for hours in a quest to define their bridal style via scent combo.

So for those of you looking for a quick bridal scent guide, below are a few standouts at different price points.

UNDER $50
While Carrie Bradshaw's dramafest of a first attempt at marrying Mr. Big at the New York Public Library is not necessarily a bridal moment for which to strive, Sarah Jessica Parker has created a gaggle of scents to compliment a sophisticated bride on a budget. This Lovely Gift Set includes shower gel and lotion for layering, which extends the life of the scent on your skin.

$39 at Kohl's

These days it's a rare bride who does not incorporate Vera Wang into her wedding somehow (my touch of Vera? We registered for some of her Wedgwood silverware!). Bouquet is one of her most popular scents - perfect for the classic bride.

Vera for under $50?! Thank you, Amazon.com!

UNDER $100
Chanel Chance is my favorite designer fragrance - and now with a trio of scents, there is a Chance for all seasons. The best scent for brides is Chance Eau Fraiche. Perfect for the bride who wants to make a splash. Shower gel and body cream are available too - layer, layer, layer!

(Under $75 if you get it Duty Free!) Or splurge on Chanel.com.

UNDER, um, $216,000
For the truly insane - I mean, discerning - bride, Clive Christian offers Imperial Majesty: a $2,150-per-ounce perfume poured into a handcrafted Baccarat crystal bottle adorned with a five-carat diamond set in an 18-carat gold collar. WHOA. What's more, the perfume is personally delivered by Rolls Royce. This is your chance to own a piece of history - the very limited edition Imperial Majesty is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Most Expensive Perfume. (I would hope it is!)

Clive Christian = Be to the Yond

What is your favorite bridal scent? To save or to splurge? Let me know your thoughts!

Cheers,

Embracing the Big 3-0

Well, I've done all the pampering, primping, and exercising I can. The hubby and I have gone out for celebratory meals with great friends. And I bought myself an uberfab Michael Kors watch.

Today is my 30th birthday. Nothing left to do but EMBRACE my new decade (and the fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead that come with it).

If you'd asked me one, or five, or ten years ago what I'd be doing at 30, I would never have guessed I'd be the founder of AnyWay Weddings. Life takes unexpected turns, and the best thing you can do is enjoy the ride.

 Happy birthday to me, and cheers to all of you!

Bridal Tip: Freeze your Wedding Cake. Seriously. Do it.

It might not look as good, but YUM. (Photo on the right by Snap!)

This week I am celebrating my 30th birthday (which is tomorrow, y'all) and my mom is in town and it is HER 60th birthday ON THE SAME DAY so I am going to keep the blog posts short and sweet this week. Mom and I have an extravaganza of a birthday to celebrate, after all.

So a quick tip for all you brides-to-be out there: if there is any one wedding tradition that you choose to follow, let it be the freezing of the top tier of your wedding cake. Now, I know that cupcakes and dessert tables seem to be mayjah trends right now. And that is fine by me. I am an equal opportunity dessert advocate. The more sweets the better. Just trust me when I say this: get yourself a good pastry chef, and make sure there is something to freeze.

For those of you paying attention, yes, I have already mentioned that our cake (shown above in September 2009 and September 2010) tasted just as good on our first anniversary as it did at our wedding. But even if the cake had tasted crap, the experience of opening the cake box one year after our wedding was so much fun, and brought back all our memories of our day. 

Life moves fast, and your wedding goes by in the blink of an eye. Give yourself a chance to experience a little of the magic of your wedding day when you toast yourselves one year later. You'll be glad you did!

Cheers,

Friday Fashionspiration #4: Jewel Tone Manolos. Hot.

Believe it or not, I am not actually a shoe person. (Don't worry about me though! Where I lack lust for shoes I more than make up in my obsession with handbags. I promise.) However I can't stop gawking at the current crop of jewel-tone Manolo Blahnik beauties out this season. And in my gawking I can't help but think how fabulous two of his iconic models - the Sedaraby D'Orsay and the Hangisi - would look on fall and winter brides. The jewel tones add an unexpected twist, while the designs are absolutely classic and stunning.

I'll take one of each please. Thank you, Bergdorf Goodman.

The "Something Blue" jeweled satin Hangisi (bottom right) was of course made beyond iconic by SJP in the first "Sex and the City" movie. The object of Carrie Bradshaw's lust - possibly the most fabulous "something blue" a bride can wear, no? - has since been transformed into a gorgeous dark gray model which is right on trend with current hot wedding color palettes. Drool.

In general though, brides like to show off a good pedi. And what better way than to don a pair of jeweled satin Sedaraby D'Orsay pumps? I absolutely love the peacock blue, and the extra bling on the claret red is basically to die for. Winter wedding perfection.

Which pair is your fave? Would you choose jewel tones over classic bridal white for your wedding shoe?

Cheers,

First NYC Wedding Connection = Resounding Success!

I am thrilled to report that our inaugural NYC Wedding Connection was a mayjah success! We had a fantastic and diverse group of wedding vendors in attendance, and it was great to finally put some faces to names (and Twitter aliases!). Attendees included representatives from Big Apple Florist, Numily Creations, Royale Amethyst Invitations, plus a wedding photographer, wedding videographer, makeup artist, publicist, AND the gals behind Navy and Lavender and NewlyWish! PHEW!

Personally, it was so inspiring to meet other people who have started their own businesses - and who have met with great success. Starting a business has been the most daunting professional endeavor of my life. I have many moments of self-doubt and hesitation. So it was beyond fab to meet such inspiring wedding vendors and business owners. I absorbed as much useful advice as I could - thank you all for the amazing feedback on my budding business!

Huge thanks to all who attended, and extra special kudos to the brains behind the operation - Mary at Chandelier Productions. Look for the next NYC Wedding Connection event in early December, and email me (jen {at} anywayweddings.com) if you'd like to join our mailing list!

NYC Wedding Connection:

Connecting people into personal and working relationships to strengthen the wedding industry in New York City. 

Cheers,

Friday Fashionspiration #4: More Bumpin' Bridal Gowns!

I have gotten such a fantastic to reponse to Tuesday's post on Jessica Iverson's spectacular maternity bridal collection that I wanted to toss a few more favorite dresses into the blogosphere. So without further ado...

Behold, the Madeline. The rosettes above the belly! The sheer, criss-crossing back straps! Youthful and delightful!

The Madeline (all images via Maternity Bride by Jessica Iverson Couture)

Next up, the Stephanie. The beaded straps add a touch of bling while the chiffon tiers are playful and flattering. A fun silhouette for the pregnant bride.

The Stephanie

And finally, the Naomi. This is a classic "here comes the bride dress" and the little lace jacket offers extra coverage if you're knocked up and not as ripped as Bethenny Frankel (and let's face it - she was rather otherworldly in her bridal buffness, no?). This taffeta number is covered in lace details and has a lace-up corset back.

The Naomi

Viva la bumping bride!

Cheers,

P.S. For more maternity bridal inspiration, check out this post from the SmartBride Boutique blog!

Etsy's BEST Wedding Dress Hangers

As much as I loved my wedding day, there are a few things I would have done differently - and that I do do differently with my brides now that I am a bride adviser. My wedding day "woulda, coulda, shoulda"'s are all in the wee details - and I'll always be grateful that nothing mayjah went awry. Still, there are some small but powerful lessons to be imparted unto the nearlywed. So listen up, lovelies.

There is no excuse to burden your wedding dress of dreams with a crappy, ugly hanger. 

You will only wear this dress on this one very important day. And unless you plan to cut a viewing window into your archival box, you will not lay eyes on it again for decades. Your photographer will inevitably snap your gown. So give it a chance to look as fabulous on its hanger as it will look on you! Or, well, almost as fabulous, obv.

Case in point:

I loved my dress. It did not deserve this fugtastic hanger. (Photo by Snap!)

Fortunately, a closetful of creative folks on Etsy have caught on to this fashion tragedy and come up with some very cute, affordable options that will turn your hanging dress into a true photo op.

The "Original Silver" hanger has gotten a lot of attention in the wedblogosphere, and for good reason! This hanger is simple and adorable. You can personalize your hanger with up to 14 characters. The artist, LilaFrances, is clearly an expert metal manipulator. A great choice for a light, simple, classic wedding dress.

Photo via LilaFrances on Etsy.com

If your dress has a little more oomph, you need a hanger that is stronger. Here is a lovely wooden hanger covered in silk, with cute little ties on each end to secure your dress straps.

Photo via Silayaya on Etsy.com

I also love these monogrammed padded woven hangers. The ribbon and monogram color are customizable - hello, wedding color palette! A hanger like this would look great with a vintage-looking ivory gown.

Photo via NutfieldWeaver on Etsy.com

If I could do it all again, which would I choose? Well, I think I would have to stay loyal to my favorite color, orange, which was also the accent color in my wedding color palette. Finding this orange satin dress hanger sent a momentary pang of longing through my heart and made me wish I knew how to use Photoshop. A to the Dorable.

Photo via Kim Grant, Ink on Etsy.com

Want to have a super cute dress photo? Get personalized hangers for your bridesmaids too! 

Which hanger is your favorite? What other creative wedding dress hangers or photo op options are out there? Leave a comment!

Cheers,

Adorable Wedding DIY: The Framily Tree

Yes, that's right: framily, not family! I had never heard of this idea before my Vermont couple's mother of the groom planned this for their wedding, and I think it is a brilliant idea that I hope future clients will want to use.

What it is: The "Framily Tree" is a DIY project that happens before or at the wedding, and is created by everyone - friends and family, get it? - in attendance.

A friend of the bride creates his Nilla likeness.

Tada! The completed Framily Tree. Could this be more adorable?

Why yes it could... cue ridiculously adorable bride and groom!

How to do it: You can use a variety of materials, but I do love this family's choice of cookies and frosting, which helped set the tone for this laid-back, colorful, personal, rustic Vermont wedding.  However, if you want to create a more sophisticated, lasting piece of wedding memorabilia, the Framily Tree can just as easily be made out of canvas, paper or fabric.

For this Framily Tree, the mother of the groom baked two rectangular sheets of cookie and frosted each of them in the shape of half a tree, so when put together they form one "framily" tree. Each wedding guest decorated a Nilla wafer in his or her likeness and placed the wafer on one of the branches on either the bride or groom's side of the tree.

Guests created the Alexander-Maragliano Framily Tree the night before the wedding. The Framily Tree would also make a great activity for the wedding day, in addition to or instead of a traditional guest book. 

Why we love it: Not only was the Framily Tree a fun and creative way for guests to engage in wedding DIY, but the end result was a super cute and appropriate addition to this wedding's colorful decor. This is also a fantastic activity for kids. The Framily Tree makes everyone feel young at heart!

Have you ever seen a Framily Tree before? Do you love it or do you love it? Leave a comment!

Cheers,